There were a couple of factors that switched me away from Well they would say that, wouldn't they? status with regard to criticism of McLaren Vale winemaker Stephen Pannell's website, allforonewine.com.au.
The website urges Australian drinkers to pledge to drink only Australian wines from Jan 1st, 2011 until Australia Day, January 26th, and has been described as protectionist and jingoistic by, among others, New Zealand producers concerned about maintaining their grip on their share of their largest export market.
Well, they would say that, wouldn't they? You can read the brief article from Decanter.com here.
The first thing that prompted my response was the 200 European Wines for $50 and under booklet accompanying the latest issue of Gourmet Traveller Wine. Now, there's not much chance I'll be trying anything that's recommended in there, but it was a timely reminder that there's a rather large world of wine out there, with plenty of interesting things you can try.
The second was an article under the headline We're getting slaughtered out there in today's Australian that gave me a bit to think about as I set off on the morning walk.
I'm the first to admit that a glance at the Pannell website was all I needed before I added my details to the list. A glance at those who had already signed up, including winemakers Vanya Cullen, Jeffrey Grosset and wine writer Max Allen was enough. I try to support these people by buying their wines, so I'll support them by jumping on board here.
Now, you could point out that I already drink nothing but Australian wine, so what's the difference? That's a fair enough point, and it was the question of why we drink what we drink that formed the basis for the morning musings along the beaten track around downtown Bowen.
For a start, there are a number of factors that influence your drinking habits that don't apply when you live in Bowen. I'm sure if I lived somewhere with ready access to a Dan Murphy's, a decent independent wine retailer, or a number of eateries and watering holes with interesting by the glass wine lists my drinking habits would be different. For a start I'd be able to go looking for some of those 200 European Wines for $50 and under.
Access to a decent independent wine retailer and a range of eateries with reasonable corkage and a BYO wine only policy would provide an excuse to pick up some special bottles to go with an interesting dinner. At some point in the indeterminate future I'll probably have to relocate, so those factors may come into play if and when I do, but for the time being I'm ensconced in the Little House of Concrete, so I'm stuck with the current situation.
As stated, there are all sorts of factors that influence your drinking habits. It's quite possible to do very nicely thank-you by buying nothing but cleanskins from Dan Murphy's. I know people who operate like that, and they're getting something reasonable at the same time as they get the chance to direct the money they save into other avenues.
If we were in the habit of heading to Townsville and/or Mackay I could possibly do the same. Alternatively I could make the odd phone call to somewhere like Boccaccio Cellars where the prices on unlabelled cleanskins look very attractive indeed.
There's a slight problem with that sort of thing. I like to know what I’m drinking, and I like to be able to compare and contrast by name and vintage. Sure, I like Clare Riesling, and I noted what’s probably a pretty fair one over there under the $10 mark, but I also like to know where it comes from. If I get a phone call from, say, Jim Barry offering me a box of substantially discounted Watervale I’m in like a shot. No problem.
That also means the winery gets the full whatever I pay for the wine, rather than the relative pittance they’ve had to the middle man, who’s going to add on his margin before it goes out the door at $8 or whatever.